Credit: Howard Wise/JPI (2); CBS Screenshot (2); CBS via Everett Collection

It was a hit-and-miss week for Bold & Beautiful thanks to a decent twist (most of us saw coming), proof positive than Thomas and his women are in for a heck of a ride, and some wildly repetitive dialogue. Lots to talk about, so let’s dive in! 

Hope for Thomas’ Future

Let’s just get this out of the way right up front: The odds of Thomas/Paris still being a “thing” a year from now are right up there with those of Quinn returning to reignite her short-lived affair with Liam. (Remember that wild story, which Scott Clifton ranks as one of his favorites so far?) But of course, Thomas/Hope fans want their faves together, and they want it to happen right this minute… despite that being the least dramatic option possible.

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Years ago, I was talking to a big wig at NBC about their supernatural sudser, Passions. Fans were furious because long-estranged lovers Luis and Sheridan had been pulled apart by yet another cruel twist of fate, with many of those viewers vowing never to watch again. “I love when people swear they won’t watch unless their favorite couple reunites,” the exec said. “That’s a viewer who is invested and won’t ever give up.”

Soaps are all about delayed gratification. Fans should be careful what they wish for, because on soaps in general — and this show in particular — a happy couple is the kiss of death. Ask Wyatt and Flo. or Donna and a post-health-crisis Eric. Heck, ask Brooke and Ridge, who’ve been reduced to talk-to characters for everyone else since their latest reunion.

Take My Breath Away

My all-time favorite primetime soap was Knots Landing. I was never a huge Gary/Val fan, but it was pretty clear they were the “root-for” couple. Over the show’s 14-season run, however, they were rarely together. And yet every single time one walked into the room, the other couldn’t help but look their way longingly or take in a sharp breath, as if to say, “that is my person, even if only I know it.”

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To me, that’s good soap. Couples you want to see together who aren’t actually able to be with one another for whatever reason. Every now and then they have a stolen moment which might, if they’re lucky, last a while. But sooner or later, another problem comes up, tearing them apart once again.

In this case, Paris is the speedbump on Thomas and Hope’s road to happiness. The only real question is whether Finn will become one, too. Every single time Brooke says Hope can’t have feelings for Steffy’s husband, it’s as if the writers are telling us that’s exactly where things are going. And as we’ll explain in a moment, we now know exactly how the show will get from Point A to Point B…

Another One Bites The Dust

I don’t think many viewers were surprised by Hollis’ death. Nearly a week ago, the show revealed that someone would be dying, so when Hollis repeatedly asked, “Gee, doesn’t it seem weird the way Tom died?” it seemed pretty clear his name would soon be etched on a tombstone.

What Hollis’ death promises to do is amp up the already tense situation between Finn, Steffy and Hope. Because Steffy — who on Friday called the police to suggest maybe Sheila might have something to do with Tom’s death, despite nobody suspecting it’s murder — will clearly do the same thing now that Hollis is dead. Despite Finn’s promise to put his wife first, something tells us he won’t take well to Steffy calling his mom a killer (which she is, whether guilty this time or not).

Cue Finn once again confiding in Hope, who is dealing with Thomas and Douglas’ latest departure and… yup, this is gonna get even messier. That said, I don’t understand why Thomas, Paris and Douglas were rushed off the canvas so quickly. How do you play the longing between Thomas and Hope if he’s not there? And if we’re to be invested in even the idea of Paris and Thomas, we need to see more of them as a couple. So it’s definitely in the show’s best interest to bring the trio back ASAP!

Random Thoughts

• I really want the show to throw attentive viewers a bone by having Paris admit to Finn that there was a time when she crushed on him.

• Fun having Thomas refer to the Speedos dad Ridge wore years and years ago.

• I don’t even know what to make of the man formerly known as Dollar Bill Spencer. I don’t recognize this mushball who does nothing but gush about his new family while taking them again and again to a pizza joint run by a man he can’t stand whose wife tried to kill Poppy’s sister and nephew.